Battle of Fromelles: What Can You See Today?

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6 ай бұрын

Join historian Mat McLachlan as he explores the poignant battlefield of Fromelles.
The Battle of Fromelles was one of the bloodiest 24 hours of the First World War. On July 19, 1916, British and Australian troops launched a diversionary attack near this French village, which ended in carnage. 5533 Australians were killed or wounded, and the name Fromelles would go down in history as a scene of devastation. Mat visits key sites on the battlefield to discover what can still be seen today, and brings the history to life with some stunning drone shots.
Sites visited:
- Australian Memorial Park
- 'Hitler' Bunker
- Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Cemetery
- Battle of Fromelles Museum
- VC Corner Cemetery
Join Mat on a battlefield tour: battlefields.com.au/
Learn more about Mat McLachlan History: linktr.ee/matmclachlan

Пікірлер: 33

@bevdonovan 6 ай бұрын

Great video Matt. My Mother's Father fought here, I believe it was his first combat experience. After the war he left Australia and crossed the Tasman where he would meet my Grandmother. The story passed down is that when he arrived home from the war, he was forced to sleep in a shed out the back of the family property because of the screaming nightmares he would have.

@MatMcLachlanHistory 6 ай бұрын

Wow, amazing story. Thanks for sharing.

@jackthebassman1 6 ай бұрын

Another superb, posting Matt, thanks always for your work in keeping history live.

@MatMcLachlanHistory 6 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching.

@Mutsky1953 2 ай бұрын

Thanks Matt, My wife’s Grand Uncle, Henry Bell, I believe, was the 1st digger to be exhumed from the burial site and is the 1st to be buried at the new cemetery. We were there in 2010 for the opening and then again in 2019 after Henry Bell’s DNA was matched with my wife’s cousine in 2018.

@HuwWatson-yy7cf 6 ай бұрын

Visited last summer…incredible.

@MatMcLachlanHistory 6 ай бұрын

It certainly is. One of the most moving battlefields I've visited.

@gregoryrawson7189 6 ай бұрын

Hi Mat. Thanks for the video. My Great uncle John Turner, 30th Battalion is one of the soldiers that was identified and buried in the Pheasant Wood Cemetery. His brother James from the 3rd Battalion landed at Gallipoli on the first morning and was killed at Lone Pine, he has no known grave, both were from Dubbo in NSW. Their brother-in-law was killed in 1917 at Passchendaele and is buried in Tyne Cot cemetery. Their father and 16 year old brother also served in France. I've had the great privilege to visit all 3 sites. Always watch your videos. Lest We Forget.

@MatMcLachlanHistory 6 ай бұрын

That’s an incredible family connection Greg. Thanks for sharing.

@thenoworriesnomad 6 ай бұрын

As always Mat..👍👍

@MatMcLachlanHistory 6 ай бұрын

Thank you!

@user-vb9sj1mx2s 6 ай бұрын

Very nice to be coincidentally part of this video. On my third Mat McLachlan organised tour of the Western Front. All have been quite wonderful. On our previous two tours we were so fortunate to have the excellent McLachlan guide, Pete Smith. Our guide for this tour was Jon Haslock, also featured in this video. His guiding was also so exceptional. Also very nice to meet Mat in Ypres at the Menin Gate. We cannot do enough to commemorate our fallen and we thank Mat McLachlan History for facilitating this for us.

@MatMcLachlanHistory 6 ай бұрын

Brilliant! I didn't realise that was one of our tours. What a neat coincidence!

@derekstocker6661 6 ай бұрын

Thanks so much for this wonderful insight to the Battle of Fromelles and to those who sadly lost their lives there. What a wonderful and peaceful place it is now as opposed to all those years ago. RIP brave guys, and thank you for the ultimate sacrifice you gave.

@MatMcLachlanHistory 6 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it. It’s a special place.

@westerncherokeewireless642 6 ай бұрын

Another awesome job, sir!

@MatMcLachlanHistory 6 ай бұрын

Thank you! Cheers!

@Rosnoseros 6 ай бұрын

Good work.

@MatMcLachlanHistory 6 ай бұрын

Thanks!

@anthonynestor9336 6 ай бұрын

Excellent video! A "must add" visit in my travels.

@MatMcLachlanHistory 6 ай бұрын

Thanks Anthony! 👍🏼

@davewilson9738 6 ай бұрын

The numbers of unidentified men is still shocking.

@MatMcLachlanHistory 6 ай бұрын

It certainly is. Shocking.

@anthonyeaton5153 6 ай бұрын

There were 1,500 British casualties at the Fromelles battle all from the 61st Division.

@MatMcLachlanHistory 6 ай бұрын

Very true. I mentioned the British in the opening, but the video deals with the Australian sector.

@anthonyeaton5153 6 ай бұрын

@@MatMcLachlanHistory I realise that but it was information for our Australian followers.

@urbaneplanner 6 ай бұрын

Crazy they discovered 250 remains only in 2008

@MatMcLachlanHistory 6 ай бұрын

It was pretty extraordinary.

@rodblievers620 6 ай бұрын

A bit chauvinistic Matt, there are English soldiers interred in the new CWGC cemetery too.

@MatMcLachlanHistory 6 ай бұрын

Thanks for the comment. There are two unidentified British soldiers in the cemetery (not necessarily 'English'), and 23 completely unknown (who are almost certainly Australian). Given that more than 90% of the soldiers are Australian, for the sake of clarity I didn't mention the two British unknowns. But yes, you are correct - the cemetery is almost, but not entirely, Australian.

@rodblievers620 6 ай бұрын

@@MatMcLachlanHistory Thanks Matt. I used the term “English” rather than “British” as the latter was often used to encompass all UK & Commonwealth soldiers.

@WascallyWabbity Ай бұрын

@@MatMcLachlanHistory Fair few of those Aussies were new immigrants born in the UK as well. Patriotism for the mother country was very strong then.